Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device and japanese paper yarn manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

A Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention that provides a method for mass-production of inexpensive Japanese paper yarns by saving labor includes a slitter that slits a Japanese paper sheet fed out from a Japanese paper roll into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction, and a distributing section that distributes the plurality of slit Japanese paper tapes. An air flow section feeds air into a plurality of the tubes of the distributing section, so that the distributed Japanese paper tapes are sent in a floating manner to a plurality of yarn processing device units.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-017947, filed Feb. 4, 2019. The contents of that application are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a novel Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device and a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method.

Background Art

In recent years, many products using a Japanese paper yarn that make use of the characteristics of Japanese paper have been provided. A Japanese paper yarn is formed by slitting a sheet of Japanese paper to Japanese paper tapes with widths of about several millimeters and twisting the slit Japanese paper tapes into yarns. Industrially, a sheet of Japanese paper is slit into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes having widths of various sizes by a slitter, and each of the slit Japanese paper tapes is wound into a cheese to obtain a wound body. From these wound bodies, the wound body having the Japanese paper tape with a width required by a twisted yarn manufacturer is purchased and set for each unit of twisting machine or covering machine, so that a twisted or covered Japanese paper yarn is manufactured.

However, when each of Japanese paper tapes is wound into a cheese, when a wound body of the Japanese paper tape is stored, and furthermore, when each of Japanese paper tapes is unwound from the wound body to manufacture a yarn, winding of the Japanese paper tape may collapse. The winding collapse has caused not only material loss, but also yarn breakage and poorer productivity. Further, although cut end portions at both ends of each Japanese paper tape are cut with a sharp blade, fine fluffs are generated. For this reason, the cut end portion entangles with an adjacent Japanese paper tape, and resistance is generated when the tape is unwound. As a result, the Japanese paper tape is often torn when the yarn is produced with a twisting machine or a covering machine, which has been a cause of poor productivity. In the production of Japanese paper yarns, the work of winding Japanese paper tapes, taking out the wound Japanese paper tapes, and setting the tapes in individual twisting machines or covering machines in units are performed manually each time. For this reason, wastes in labor and time loss are large, and have been the bottlenecks in cost reduction.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is conceivable that a Japanese paper sheet is slit with a slitter and then directly made into yarns. However, in a case where the Japanese paper sheet is slit with a slitter, about 100 to 200 Japanese paper tapes are made from a single Japanese paper sheet. However, in order to process all of these Japanese paper tapes into yarns, it is necessary to arrange 100 to 200 twisting machines or covering machines, which are as many as the number of the slit Japanese paper tapes. Even if a large number of twisting machines or covering machines can be prepared, it is necessary to attach the Japanese paper tapes slit by the slitter directly to individual twisting machines or covering machines. In that case, from the standpoint of securing the dimensions of the twisting machine or covering machine and the working space, even if the slitter is placed in the center where it is considered to be a reasonable position, the transport distance of Japanese paper tape from the slitter to the twisting machines or the covering machines that are disposed at both ends is required to be at least about 10 m. When each length of 100 to 200 Japanese paper tapes with a width of about 1 mm to several mm is increased, some tapes may break due to their own weight while passing through the space. However, the present inventor has conducted an experiment and found that there is a possibility that a Japanese paper tape breaks due to friction with an inner wall of the tube even in a distance of around 3 m, in connection with a transport speed necessary to increase the production efficiency of Japanese paper yarns.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device and a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method capable of achieving a labor saving and energy saving and mass-producing inexpensive Japanese paper yarns by continuously supplying the plurality of Japanese paper tapes, which are obtained by slitting the Japanese paper sheet by a slitter, directly to a yarn twisting machines or a covering machines and processing the tapes into a plurality of Japanese paper yarns.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device including a Japanese paper roll that is obtained by winding the long Japanese paper sheet in a roll shape, a slitter that slits the Japanese paper sheet fed out from the Japanese paper roll into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction, a distributing section provided with a plurality of tubes each having an inner diameter that allows each of the slit Japanese paper tapes to pass through, an air flow section that creates flow of air from an inlet toward an outlet in an inside of the plurality of the tubes, and a plurality of yarn processing device units that processes the Japanese paper tapes distributed by the tubes of the distributing section into the plurality of Japanese paper yarns.

Alternatively, according to a second preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device including a Japanese paper roll that is obtained by winding the long Japanese paper sheet in a roll shape, a slitter that slits the Japanese paper sheet fed out from the Japanese paper roll into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction, the distributing section provided with the plurality of tubes each having an inner diameter that allows each of the slit Japanese paper tapes to pass through, and the plurality of yarn processing device units that processes the Japanese paper tapes distributed by the tubes of the distributing section into the plurality of Japanese paper yarns.

An installation position of the slitter is higher than a Japanese paper tape supply position to each of the yarn processing device units, and an inclination angle of each tube of the distributing section is at a depression angle of 20 to 60 degrees. More preferably, the inclination angle of each tube of the distributing section is at a depression angle of 30 to 60 degrees.

In the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, in the distributing section, one ends of the tubes may be bundled and each of the other ends may be provided in each of the yarn processing device units.

Further, in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, the air flow section may include a plurality of nozzles each provided at an inlet of each of the tubes toward an inside of the tube and one or more pressurizing devices that send compressed air to each of the nozzles.

Further, in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, the air flow section includes a plurality of suction members each provided at an outlet of each of the tubes so as to suck air inside the tube and one or more decompression devices that suck air from each of the suction members.

The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device may include a suction unit that sucks the torn Japanese paper tape and discharges the torn Japanese paper tape to an outside, and a storage tank that stores a Japanese paper tape discharged by the suction unit.

In the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, each of the yarn processing device units may be composed of a twisting device unit or a covering device unit.

Further, in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, the plurality of the yarn processing device units may include a steam generator unit that applies steam into contact with each of the Japanese paper tapes or each of the Japanese paper yarns.

Furthermore, the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device may include a plurality of yarn breakage detectors that detects breakage of the Japanese paper tape or the Japanese paper yarn.

Next, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method including the steps of preparing the Japanese paper sheet wound in a roll, feeding out the Japanese paper sheet in a longitudinal direction, slitting the fed-out Japanese paper sheet into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction, distributing each of the plurality of the slit Japanese paper tapes through the plurality of tubes, transporting the plurality of the distributed Japanese paper tapes by sending air in transporting direction of each Japanese paper tape in each tube to which each Japanese paper tape is distributed, and processing a plurality of the transported Japanese paper tapes into the plurality of Japanese paper yarns.

Alternatively, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method including the steps of preparing the Japanese paper sheet wound in a roll, feeding out the Japanese paper sheet in a longitudinal direction, slitting the fed-out Japanese paper sheet into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction, distributing each of the plurality of the slit Japanese paper tapes through the plurality of tubes, transporting each of the plurality of the distributed Japanese paper tapes in each tube to which each Japanese paper tape is distributed from top to bottom by inclining each tube at a depression angle of 20 to 60 degrees, and processing the plurality of the transported Japanese paper tapes into the plurality of Japanese paper yarns.

According to the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device and the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method of the present invention, the Japanese paper sheet fed out from the Japanese paper roll is slit by the slitter, and the obtained plurality of Japanese paper tapes are respectively distributed to the plurality of yarn processing device units by the distributing section including the plurality of tubes and the air flow section. Since the air flow section carries the Japanese paper tapes on the flow of air in individual tubes to the yarn processing device units, most of the Japanese paper tapes are not torn. Therefore, most of the Japanese paper tapes are processed into a Japanese paper yarn.

This series of operations is performed until there is no more Japanese paper sheet in the Japanese paper roll. In this Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device, even if several Japanese paper tapes or Japanese paper yarns break, manufacture of the Japanese paper yarns is performed without stopping the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device. Therefore, it almost eliminates the need for human operator to perform operation, and labor saving is achieved. Further, the Japanese paper yarns can be manufactured from the Japanese paper sheet in a shortest period of time. For this reason, manufacturing cost can be reduced significantly.

In the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device and Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method, the Japanese paper tape is fed on the flow of air inside the tube. Accordingly, the Japanese paper tape is carried without resistance associated with contact with the inner surface of the tube, and the Japanese paper tape hardly breaks. When the speed of the air flowing through the tube is the same as or higher than the speed of feeding the Japanese paper tape to the yarn processing device unit, the Japanese paper tape can be fed without air resistance, and the Japanese paper tape hardly breaks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a slitter used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing another embodiment of the slitter used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4D are explanatory views showing a schematic configuration of the distributing section used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a front view of the plurality of tubes which constitutes the distributing section, FIG. 4B is a front view including the tubes which constitute the distributing section according to another embodiment, FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along c-c in FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of a main part according to another embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of the air flow section used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing an example of a shape of an end portion of each tube in the distributing section used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of a torn Japanese paper tape discharging section used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing a device configuration example of the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 8A is a plan view and FIG. 8B is a side view;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing another device configuration example of the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of the covering device unit which is an example of a yarn processing device unit used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of the twisting device unit which is an example of a yarn processing device unit used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a surface view showing a Japanese paper tape for manufacturing a Japanese paper yarn, in which the black part is the color of a mount, and the Japanese paper tape that is the raw material is wound around the mount;

FIG. 13 is a surface view showing an example of a Japanese paper yarn manufactured by the twisting device unit which is an example of the yarn processing device unit used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, in which the black part is the color of the mount, and a white yarn is wound around the mount;

FIG. 14 is a surface view showing an example of another Japanese paper yarn manufactured by the twisting device unit which is an example of the yarn processing device unit used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, in which the black part is the color of the mount, and a white yarn is wound around the mount;

FIG. 15 is a surface view showing, for comparison, a Japanese paper yarn obtained by twisting a Japanese paper tape in a dry state by the twisting device unit which is an example of the yarn processing device unit used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, in which the black part is the color of the mount, and a white yarn is wound around the mount;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory side view showing another embodiment of the distributing section used in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [Schematic Configuration of Japanese Paper Yarn Manufacturing Device]

As shown in FIG. 1, a Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device 10 according to the present invention includes a Japanese paper roll 14 obtained by winding the long Japanese paper sheet 12 in a roll shape, a slitter 16 that slits the Japanese paper sheet 12 fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14 into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes in a feeding direction, the distributing section 40 provided with the plurality of tubes 42 that distributes and transports the plurality of the slit Japanese paper tapes 18 to the plurality of yarn processing device units 20 that process the Japanese paper tapes 18 into a yarn shape by twisting or covering, and the air flow section (not shown) for sending air into the plurality of tubes 42 of the distributing section 40.

[Japanese Paper]

Japanese paper used in the present invention is paper obtained by filtering a slurry form of Japanese paper raw material that mainly includes fibers obtained by beating one or more types of raw material plants suitable for Japanese paper. Examples of the raw material plants suitable for Japanese paper include paper mulberry, oriental paper bush, gampi, hemp, conifers, hardwoods, and bamboo grass. A basis weight suitable for Japanese paper is preferably about 8 to 30 g/m² in view of manufacturing technology, but it is possible to use Japanese paper having a large basis weight exceeding this range and Japanese paper having a small basis weight lower than this range. Japanese paper used in the present invention may contain a raw material fiber other than the above mentioned Japanese paper raw material as long as the Japanese paper is 20% by weight or less. When a content rate of a fiber other than the Japanese paper raw material exceeds 20% by weight, the hygroscopicity and strength distinctive to Japanese paper become poor, which is unfavorable. In the Japanese paper used in the present invention, a content rate of the above mentioned Japanese paper raw material is further preferably 90% by weight or more in view of product performance.

For the Japanese paper used in the present invention, Japanese paper (Japanese paper sheet 12) of a long sheet shape that has a width of about 200 mm to 500 mm and a length of about 10,000 m to 50,000 m may be used. However, the width and length of the Japanese paper sheet are not limited. The Japanese paper sheet 12 is manufactured so that the directions of the fibers of the Japanese paper raw material are aligned as much as possible in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the obtained Japanese paper sheet 12 is formed to be relatively weak against a tensile force in a width direction, while formed to be considerably strong and difficult to be torn by a tensile force in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, the Japanese paper tape 18 having a width of about 0.8 mm to about 30 mm obtained by slitting the Japanese paper sheet 12 in the longitudinal direction is less likely to be torn as compared with paper (Western paper) in which directions of raw material fibers are random. The long Japanese paper sheet 12 is wound around a roller 22 in a roll shape to form the Japanese paper roll 14. The roller 22 is installed in a bearing (not shown) so that the Japanese paper sheet 12 is smoothly fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14. Note that the configuration can be such that the Japanese paper roll obtained by winding the long Japanese paper sheet 12 into a roll is placed on two rotating rolls parallel to each other, and the rotating roll is rotated so that the Japanese paper sheet 12 is fed out from the Japanese paper roll.

[First Transferring Section]

The Japanese paper sheet 12 fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14 is sent to the next slitter 16 by a first transferring section 24 at a constant speed. The first transferring section 24 is configured with a pair of rollers 25, a driving unit (not shown), and a speed reducer, and the Japanese paper sheet 12 held between the pair of rollers 25 is transferred to the slitter 16 at a constant speed. The first transferring section 24 may be provided with a mechanism and the like for keeping the tension of the Japanese paper sheet 12 fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14 constant.

[Slitter]

The slitter 16 includes a plurality of disk-shaped rotary blades 26 and a backing plate 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary blades 26 are formed in the same shape of a razor-like thin steel plate or the like, and a spacer 30 is interposed in order to make the interval between the rotary blade 26 and the rotary blade 26 constant. To show an example of this configuration more in detail, the rotary blades 26 and the spacers 30 are alternately fitted to a shaft 32, and a cap 34 on which a female screw is formed is screwed on a male screw portion formed at both ends of the shaft 32. It is also possible to interpose a key so that the rotary blade 26 does not slide with respect to the shaft 32 due to loosening of the cap 34. The shaft 32 is attached to a bearing (not shown) and is rotated by a driving unit.

The width of the Japanese paper tape 18 slit by the slitter 16 is set in the range of about 0.8 mm to about 30 mm. Since the sum of the thickness of the rotary blade 26 and the thickness of the spacer 30 is the width of the Japanese paper tape 18, the thickness of the spacer 30 is changed in order to change the width of the Japanese paper tape 18. For example, in order to obtain 160 sheets of Japanese paper tapes 18 from one Japanese paper sheet 12, 161 pieces of rotary blades 26 and 160 spacers 30 are alternately disposed. Both ends of the Japanese paper sheet 12 cut by the rotary blade 26 are collected as unnecessary margins and used as a raw material for new Japanese paper. The number of the Japanese paper tapes 18 slit by the slitter 16 is 100 to 200. However, the number is not limited to this number. The number may be 100 or less, or 200 or more. The number of the Japanese paper tapes 18 is determined by the relationship between the width of the Japanese paper sheet 12 to be used and the width of the Japanese paper tape 18 to be cut.

The surface of the backing plate 28, which is constantly in contact with a blade edge of the rotary blade 26, is made of a material that is soft so as not to damage the blade edge and has hardness that allows the Japanese paper sheet 12 to be cut. The backing plate 28 may be a flat plate. However, the backing plate 28 can be configured with a cylindrical or tubular body that can be rotated simultaneously with the blade edge of the rotary blade 26.

Other than the above, the slitter 16 can also be configured with a plurality of knives 36 as shown in FIG. 3. The individual knives 36 are configured to be able to rotate around an axis 37, and individual blade edges are pressed against the backing plate 28 by a biasing unit (not shown). In such a configuration, the Japanese paper sheet 12 is cut by inserting and sliding the Japanese paper sheet 12 between the blade edge of the knife 36 and the backing plate 28, so that the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 are obtained. In this example, the Japanese paper sheet 12 is transferred by the first transferring section 24 and a second transferring section 38 described later, so that the Japanese paper sheet 12 is cut by the knife 36. Note that, in this example as well, a spacer is used between the knife 36 and the knife 36 to adjust the width of cut Japanese paper.

The intervals between the rotary blades 26 or the knives 36 of the slitter 16 may, however not limited to, be equal. For example, the Japanese paper tape 18 having a 1-mm width and the Japanese paper tape 18 having a 2-mm width can be manufactured simultaneously. In this case, different Japanese paper yarns are manufactured simultaneously.

When the Japanese paper sheet 12 is slit by the slitter 16, a considerable amount of fine paper dust is generated and accumulates on the surface of the surrounding frame and other members. If this paper dust is left unattended, accumulated paper dust may cause the Japanese paper tape 18 to break, or may cause other troubles in the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device. In view of the above, it is preferable to provide a paper dust suction unit (not shown) in the vicinity of the slitter 16. Note that if the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section described later is of a suction type, the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section can also be used as the paper dust suction unit.

[Second Transferring Section]

The plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 slit by the slitter 16 is sent to a next process by the second transferring section 38. The second transferring section 38 is configured so that a pair of rollers 39 is able to sandwich the plurality of slit Japanese paper tapes 18. The second transferring section 38 is driven by a driving unit (not shown) in a similar manner as the first transferring section 24 described above. The first transferring section 24, the rotary blade 26 of the slitter 16, and the second transferring section 38 are preferably synchronized.

Here, the Japanese paper sheet 12 fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14 is first sandwiched between the first transferring section 24 and the second transferring section 38 and stretched with an appropriate tension. In this state, the Japanese paper sheet 12 is set so as to be slit in the feeding direction by the slitter 16, and, when the Japanese paper sheet 12 is sent by the second transferring section 38, the Japanese paper sheet 12 is slit by the slitter 16 at a predetermined width, and the plurality of slit Japanese paper tapes 18 are sent out from the second transferring section 38. A leading end portion of the Japanese paper sheet 12 transferred by the second transferring section 38 that is not slit by the slitter 16 is cut off. The plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 slit in the feeding direction, which are sandwiched by the pair of rollers 39 of the second transferring section 38, therefore, are not separated. Further, the sum width of all the slit Japanese paper tapes 18 have substantially the same width as the Japanese paper sheet 12. However, after the Japanese paper sheet 12 passes through the second transferring section 38, margins at both ends of the Japanese paper sheet 12 are collected in a collection box (not shown). The plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 other than those in the margins at both ends of the Japanese paper sheet 12 are distributed in optional directions via the distributing section 40 and supplied to the yarn processing device units 20.

[Distributing Section]

The distributing section 40 can be configured by bundling the tubes 42, which each have an inner diameter sufficiently larger than the width of the Japanese paper tape 18, for example, an inner diameter of 4 mm to 10 mm, of as many as the number of the Japanese paper tapes 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, one ends of the plurality of tubes 42 are bundled and disposed in the vicinity of the second transferring section 38, and each of the other ends of the tubes 42 is disposed in each of the yarn processing device units 20. As a method of bundling the plurality of tubes 42, for example, the tubes 42 can be densely bundled vertically and horizontally as shown in FIG. 4A. The tubes 42 are preferably stacked three-dimensionally so that each of Japanese paper tapes 18 aligned on a plane can be easily put into the tube 42 one by one. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the tubes 42 may have a configuration in which a tip of the each tube 42 is fixed to a hole that is formed on a fixing plate 44. A required number of the fixing plates 44, to which the tips of the plurality of tubes 42 are fixed, are stacked in a vertical direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4D, the configuration may be such that a plurality of holes is formed on the fixing plate 44 to arrange a plurality of tube fixing members 45, and the each tip of the tubes 42 is fitted to each of the tube fixing members 45. The tube 42 may be flexible, or may be of a material that does not charge static electricity and has wear resistance, such as a stainless steel tube or a copper tube. In a case where a distance from an inlet of the distributing section 40 to the yarn processing device unit 20 at an outlet of the distributing section 40 is long, the tube 42 made from metal can maintain linearity, which is preferable. Noted that the inner diameters of all the tubes 42 to be used do not need to be the same, and, for example, the inner diameter of a long tube 42 can be made larger than the inner diameter of a short tube 42.

[Air Flow Section]

Each of the Japanese paper tapes 18, which is inserted into the individual tubes 42, can be easily inserted by inserting the Japanese paper tape 18 from one end of the tube 42 while air is sucked from the other end of the tube 42. That is, the configuration includes a plurality of suction members (not shown) that are arranged so as to suck air inside of the plurality of tubes 42 at the outlets which are the other ends of the tubes 42, and one or more decompression devices (not shown) that suck air from the suction members. The suction members and the decompression devices constitute the air flow section. In this manner, the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 can be distributed to the yarn processing device units 20 at optional locations. Note that the tube 42, which may have a slit in the longitudinal direction on the side, can preferably hold the flow of air in the inside. After each of the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 passes through the plurality of tubes 42, the suction members are removed from the individual outlets of the tubes 42, and one or more decompression devices are stopped.

The Japanese paper tape 18 inserted into the tube 42 is transported by the air flow section 43 shown in FIG. 5. That is, each of the Japanese paper tapes 18 that is slit by the slitter 16 and sequentially sent, which is sent to the individual tubes 42 that constitute the distributing section 40, is transported so as to float in the air by being carried by the flow of air formed inside the tube 42 by the air flow section 43. The air flow section 43 includes a plurality of nozzles 43 a arranged toward the insides of the inlets of the tubes 42, and one or more pressurizing devices, such as a compressor (not shown), that send compressed air to the nozzles 43 a. The pressure or a flow rate of the compressed air sent by each of the nozzles 43 a of the air flow section 43 can be changed according to the length of the tube 42.

The air flow section 43 is provided with a chamber surrounding, for example, at least the inlet portions of the plurality of tubes 42 and the pair of rollers 39 of the second transferring section 38, and the pressure in the chamber is pressurized by a pressurizing device. As a result, the air in the chamber is discharged to the individual outsides through the insides of the tubes 42, and this action creates the flows of air in the plurality of tubes 42. The Japanese paper tapes 18 are transported on the flows of air. The flow rate of the flows of air is preferably about 2 to 30 times the traveling speed of each of the Japanese paper tapes 18.

[Torn Japanese Paper Tape Discharging Section]

A tip portions that are outlets of the tube 42 are disposed in the vicinity of the yarn processing device units 20. Each of the Japanese paper tapes 18 that is transported through the inside of the tube 42 is directly supplied to each of the yarn processing device units 20. As shown in FIG. 6, Each of the tip portions of the tubes 42 preferably forms a tongue piece portion 42 a in which at least the upper half is cut off and the lower portion is bent downward. In the tongue piece portion 42 a, the air flowing through the inside of the tube 42 flows along a curved shape of the tongue piece portion 42 a due to the Coanda effect when moving out from the tip portion. As a result, in a case where the Japanese paper tape 18 transported in the tube 42 is torn, the torn end portion of the Japanese paper tape 18 flows along the tongue piece portion 42 a and is discharged downward. Each of the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 90 is arranged below the tongue piece portion 42 a of the tube 42. Each of the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 90 includes a suction unit and a storage tank, and is configured to store the Japanese paper tape 18 that has been sucked and discharged.

As shown in FIG. 7, after the Japanese paper sheet 12 is slit into a narrow tape shape by the slitter 16, in a process of sending the Japanese paper tapes 18 to the distributing section 40 by the second transferring section 38, the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 86 and 88 are preferably provided between the slitter 16 and the second transferring section 38 and/or between the second transferring section 38 and the distributing section 40. The torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 86 and 88 are for sucking and discharging the Japanese paper tape 18 slit in a narrow width that is torn for unknown cause. Therefore, the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 86 and 88 preferably suck the Japanese paper tape 18 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the Japanese paper tape 18. A suction force of the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 86 and 88 must not be so strong that the Japanese paper tape 18 is torn, and, conversely, the suction force must not be so weak that the Japanese paper tape 18 that is torn cannot be sucked and removed. It is preferable to adjust the suction force of the torn Japanese paper tape discharging sections 86 and 88 by observing the state of the Japanese paper tape 18.

That is, in a case where any one of the obtained Japanese paper tapes 18 is torn when the Japanese paper sheet 12 is slit by the slitter 16, the torn Japanese paper tape 18 is sucked and removed by the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section 86 from the leading end of the torn position. Therefore, since the torn Japanese paper tape 18 is not sent to the next process, the cause of the trouble is eliminated. Further, a rear portion of the torn Japanese paper tape 18 preferably directly passes through the second transferring section 38 and the distributing section 40 so that a covering yarn 62 or a Japanese paper yarn 72 is manufactured, and the corresponding yarn processing device unit 20 is preferably stopped when the Japanese paper tape is torn.

Further, in a case where the Japanese paper tape 18 is torn after passing through the second transferring section 38 and before being sent to the yarn processing device unit 20, the torn Japanese paper tape 18 is sucked and removed by the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section 88 from the leading end of the torn position. Even if the torn portion is in the tube 42 of the distributing section 40, the torn Japanese paper tape 18 is pulled back and removed by the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section 88. The torn Japanese paper tape 18, which is sequentially sent by the second transferring section 38, is sucked and removed by the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section 88. Further, a rear portion of the torn Japanese paper tape 18 is directly sent to the yarn processing device unit 20, to manufacture the covering yarn 62 or the Japanese paper yarn 72. Note that the yarn processing device unit 20, which may be driven continuously, is preferably configured to be able to be stopped.

[Yarn Processing Device Unit]

The Japanese paper tapes 18 distributed by the distributing section 40 are supplied to the individual yarn processing device units 20 at the optional positions. The yarn processing device unit 20 is configured with the twisting device unit or the covering device unit, and the plurality of yarn processing device units 20 can be obtained by selecting one type or combining more than two types of these twisting device units or the covering device units. That is, it is not necessary to manufacture all of the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 into the same type of Japanese paper yarn by the yarn processing device unit 20, but different types of the plurality of Japanese paper yarns can also be manufactured at the same time. Specific configurations of the twisting device unit and the covering device unit will be described later.

The plurality of yarn processing device units 20, which can be arranged in a horizontal row as shown in FIG. 1, can also be arranged in a substantially arc shape around the distributing section 40, although not shown. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8A, it is also possible to arrange the plurality of yarn processing device units 20 in two rows. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, the fixing plates 44 of the distributing section 40 are arranged in the vertical direction, and are installed so that the plurality of tubes 42 attached to the upper fixing plate 44, and the plurality of tubes 42 attached to the lower fixing plate 44 do not interfere with each other. In this way, the plurality of tubes 42 (the Japanese paper tapes 18) distributed from the distributing section 40 do not interfere with each other, and a spread of the tubes 42 can be halved. From the same viewpoint, although not shown, the plurality of yarn processing device units 20 can be arranged in three or more rows. Note that, in the drawings, the tubes 42 are omitted and the Japanese paper tapes 18 are shown for simplification of the drawing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of yarn processing device units 20 can also be arranged in a “U-shape”. By arranging in this way, workability in the yarn processing device units 20 is improved. In the case of the present example, the plurality of tubes 42 attached to the fixing plates 44 of the distributing section 40 are bent in optional directions. Further, the other end of each of the tubes 42 can be arranged in any of the yarn processing device units 20 regardless of how the yarn processing device units 20 are arranged. Note that, in FIG. 9 as well, for simplification of the drawing, the illustration of the plurality of tubes 42 are omitted, and the Japanese paper tapes 18 are shown.

[Covering Device Unit]

As an example of the yarn processing device unit 20, there is the covering device unit 46 shown in FIG. 10. The covering device unit 46 includes a rotating tubular body 50 that is supported by a bearing 48 and is rotated by a traveling belt 49, and a wound body 56 in which a secondary yarn 54 is wound around a hollow bobbin 52 that is externally mounted on the rotating tubular body 50. The bearing 48 has an outer peripheral portion fixed to a frame (not shown), and rotatably supports the rotating tubular body 50 fixed to an inner peripheral portion of the bearing 48. Further, the traveling belt 49 is an endless belt that is caused to travel by a driving unit (not shown), and is configured such that a plurality of rotating tubular bodies 50 can be rotated simultaneously. The Japanese paper tape 18 sent from the distributing section 40 passes through a hollow portion of the rotating tubular body 50 and is wound around a winder 58. Reference numerals 60 and 61 denote feed rollers.

In such a configuration, the secondary yarn 54 fed out from the wound body 56 is wound around the Japanese paper tape 18 that travels between the feed roller 60 and the feed roller 61. That is, when the Japanese paper tape 18 and the secondary yarn 54 are combined and sent to the winder 58, the wound body 56 is rotated around the Japanese paper tape 18 together with the rotating tubular body 50 by the traveling belt 49, and the secondary yarn 54 is wound around the Japanese paper tape 18. By adjusting the feed speed of the Japanese paper tape 18 and the rotating speed of the rotating tubular body 50, appropriate covering is obtained, and the covering yarn 62 covered by the secondary yarn 54 is wound around the winder 58. Further, by reversing the traveling direction of the traveling belt 49, the winding direction can be reversed, and S winding or Z winding can be obtained optionally.

In such an embodiment, a partner yarn 64 can also be supplied from the feed roller 60 so as to be provided along each of the Japanese paper tapes 18. In this manner, the covering yarn 65, in which the secondary yarn 54 is wound by combining the Japanese paper tape 18 and the partner yarn 64, can be obtained. The number of the partner yarns 64 is not limited to one, and a plurality of partner yarns 64 may be used. In this case, different types of the partner yarns 64 can also be used in combination.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration may be such that a plurality of wound bodies 56, in which the secondary yarn 54 is wound around the hollow bobbin 52, is installed in series on the rotating tubular body 50, and the covering yarn covered with a plurality of the same or different types of the secondary yarns 54 is formed. Note that the secondary yarn 54 or the partner yarn 64 is preferably, but not particularly limited to, a long fiber.

Note that the configuration of the covering device unit described above is merely an example, and the covering device unit having another configuration may be used without limitation.

[Twisting Device Unit]

As another example of the yarn processing device unit 20, there is the twisting device unit 66 shown in FIG. 11. The twisting device unit 66 is configured as follows. A spindle 68 having a hollow bobbin 70 attached to the outer periphery is supported by the bearing 48. The spindle 68 is rotated by the traveling belt 49. As a result, the twisted Japanese paper yarn 72 is wound around the hollow bobbin 70 to obtain a wound body 74. More specifically, the Japanese paper tape 18 sent from the distributing section 40 described above is sequentially sent by the feed roller 60, and twisted to form the Japanese paper yarn 72 as described later, before passing through a snail wire 76, which is fixed to a frame (not shown). The Japanese paper yarn 72 is wound around the hollow bobbin 70 via a traveler 78 that travels around a ring 77 provided on an outer peripheral portion of the hollow bobbin 70. The ring 77 is reciprocated in an axial direction of the spindle 68 along a guide fixed to a frame (not shown). The bearing 48 has an outer peripheral portion fixed to a frame (not shown), and an inner peripheral portion that rotatably supports the spindle 68. Further, the traveling belt 49 is an endless belt that is caused to travel by a driving unit (not shown), and is configured to simultaneously rotate the spindles 68 of a plurality of the twisting device units 66.

In such a configuration, Each of the spindles 68 rotated by the traveling belt 49 rotates the hollow bobbin 70 that is externally mounted on the spindle, and rotates both of the Japanese paper tape 18 (Japanese paper yarn 72) having an end portion fixed to the hollow bobbin 70 and the traveler 78 in such a manner as to swing, then twist the Japanese paper tape 18 into the Japanese paper yarn 72. In such operation, the Japanese paper tape 18 is twisted at the point just coming out of the feed roller 60. The Japanese paper yarn 72 is wound around the hollow bobbin 70 when the Japanese paper tape 18 is sequentially fed by the feed roller 60. At this time, the ring 77 is moved up and down, and the Japanese paper yarn 72 is evenly wound around the hollow bobbin 70.

As described above, the Japanese paper sheet 12 can be slit by the slitter 16, and the plurality of slit Japanese paper tapes 18 can be directly processed into the Japanese paper yarns 72 by the plurality of the twisting device units 66. In this process, if an operator first makes an arrangement, no work is required after that. Accordingly, a significant reduction in manufacturing cost can be expected. Furthermore, since the process of winding the slit Japanese paper tape 18 into cheese is not required, the problem of winding collapse does not occur.

Each of the twisting device units 66 described above can have a configuration in which a water tank is provided just prior to feeding the Japanese paper tape 18 to the feed roller 60, so that the Japanese paper tape 18 may be twisted after being immersed in the water tank or sufficiently moistened with water using a kiss roll, or the like. As an example, a Japanese paper tape having a width of 3.0 mm and a basis weight of 15 g/m² as shown in FIG. 12 has been immersed in water in advance and twisted. The Japanese paper yarn that is Z-twisted 189 times/m as shown in FIG. 13 is manufactured. As also shown in FIG. 13, not only the surface but also the inside of the fibers of the Japanese paper tape 18 are softened by absorbing water, therefore, both surface and inside of the Japanese paper yarn are tightened, not bulky, but rigid when dried is obtained. From this Japanese paper yarn, a yarn suitable for fabric for shoes insole and shoes upper can be obtained.

Further, each of the twisting device unit 66 can be configured in such a manner that a steam outlet 80 of a steam generator unit is provided at a position between the feed roller 60 and the snail wire 76, that is, at a position where the Japanese paper tape 18 is twisted to form the Japanese paper yarn 72, and from the steam outlet 80, steam 81 is blown to the Japanese paper yarn 72. The steam 81 is a concept including water vapor, superheated steam, mist (misty air), and the like. The steam generator unit is not regulated as long as it is a device with a configuration that can moisten the surface of the Japanese paper yarn 72 as uniformly as possible. Note that the configuration may be such that a chamber is provided at a position between the feed roller 60 and the snail wire 76, the chamber is filled with the steam 81, and the steam 81 is applied to the surface of the Japanese paper yarn 72. The steam 81 is applied to (brought into contact with) the surface of the Japanese paper yarn 72, which is created by twisting, so that the surface of the Japanese paper yarn 72 is softened by the steam, and the Japanese paper yarn 72 with a smooth surface, although irregularities are present on the entire surface, is formed as shown in FIG. 14. The Japanese paper yarn 72 shown in FIG. 14 is Z-twisted 189 times/m. Note that the Japanese paper yarn steam-treated as described above is suitable for woven or knitted fabrics such as clothing for spring, summer, and autumn, or clothing such as a white robe.

Japanese paper is excellent in breathability, water absorption, sweat absorption, drying property, and divergence. The Japanese paper yarn 72 shown in FIG. 14, obtained by the manufacturing method in which steam 81 is applied after twisting the Japanese paper yarn 72, has irregularities on the surface, and since steam does not immerse to the inside of the Japanese paper yarn, the interior is not too tightened. As a result, the Japanese paper yarn can secure breathability and sufficiently obtain the performance unique to the Japanese paper. Furthermore, in the manufacturing process, steam is applied only to touch the surface of the Japanese paper yarn, and water does not infiltrate the inside of the obtained Japanese paper yarn. For this reason, the Japanese paper yarn is naturally dried, and there is no need to provide an additional drying process.

In a case where no steam is applied in the process of twisting the Japanese paper tape 18, as shown in FIG. 15, a smooth twisted yarn structure has not been obtained even under exactly the same conditions as those for twisting the Japanese paper tape 18 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 (Z-twisted 189 times/m). Japanese paper is rigid in the dry state. For this reason, the Japanese paper tape is less likely to be rounded in the width direction when it is twisted, and the portion that is easily twisted tends to be locally twisted. As a result, it is considered that the Japanese paper tape cannot be twisted uniformly.

Next, in the twisting device unit 66 shown in FIG. 11, an auxiliary yarn 82 wound around one or a plurality of cones or the like can be prepared, and can be inserted from the feed roller 60 and sent along with the Japanese paper tape 18 to be twisted, so that a composite yarn is obtained. As for the auxiliary yarn 82, one or more types of yarn selected from a group consisting of long fibers (filaments) and spun yarn can be used, and two or more yarns of the same type can also be used.

Further, in FIG. 11, reference numeral 84 denotes each of the yarn breakage detectors, which is fixed to a frame (not shown). The yarn breakage detector 84 detects a case where the Japanese paper yarn 72 is torn in the stage of twisting, and a case where the Japanese paper tape 18 is torn in a previous stage therefore, the Japanese paper yarn 72 is not formed. Preferably, the yarn breakage detector 84 of a so-called non-contact type, such as an optical type or a capacitance type, and one that is publicly known is used. When the yarn breakage detector 84 detects breakage of the Japanese paper tape 18 or the Japanese paper yarn 72, the operation of the corresponding twisting device unit 66 is preferably stopped.

Note that the configuration of the twisting device unit 66 described above is merely an example, and the twisting device unit 66 having different configuration may be used without limitation.

[Effect]

As shown in the above embodiment, the Japanese paper sheet 12 fed out from the Japanese paper roll 14 is slit into the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 having narrow widths by the slitter 16. The plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 are distributed in optional directions by the distributing sections 40, and are sent to the plurality of the covering device units 46 or the twisting device units 66, so that the plurality of the covering yarns 62 and 65 or the Japanese paper yarns 72 is manufactured. In the described series of manufacturing processes, after the operation of the novel Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention is initiated, the operator is not involved, therefore, labor saving can be achieved. Further, since manufacturing is continuous in each manufacturing process, there is no time loss and the Japanese paper yarn can be manufactured quickly. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of Japanese paper yarn can be greatly reduced, and inexpensive Japanese paper yarn can be provided.

Other Embodiments

Although an example of the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention has been described together with other embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the slitter 16 is disposed such that the installation position of the slitter 16 is higher than the supply position of each of Japanese paper tapes 18 to each of yarn processing device units 20. Then, the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 slit by the slitter 16 are distributed to the individual yarn processing device units 20 by the distributing section 40 via the second transferring section 38. An inclination angle of each tube 42 of the distributing section 40 is set to a depression angle (an angle of dip) θ of 20 degrees to 60 degrees, more preferably 30 degrees to 60 degrees. With this configuration, the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 that pass through each of the tubes 42 of the distributing section 40 is sent to each of the yarn processing device units 20 by own weights. In the present embodiment, the plurality of Japanese paper tapes 18 are sent without being torn without the need of the air flow section. However, this does not preclude the combined use of the air flow section.

Note that the material of the tubes 42 of the distributing section 40 is preferably one that does not generate static electricity. This is because if the static electricity is generated in the tube 42 for some reason and the Japanese paper tape 18 is attracted to the inner surface of the tube 42, this causes the Japanese paper tape 18 to be torn. Further, in order to improve the sliding between the inner surface of the tube 42 and the Japanese paper tape 18, the inner surface of the tube 42 may be applied with surface treatment with fluorine-based resin or the like that improves the sliding.

Further, in the covering device unit 46 shown in FIG. 10, a steam generator unit may be provided in the vicinity of each outlet of the rotating tubular bodies 50, from which the covering yarn 62 in which the secondary yarn 54 is wound around the Japanese paper tape 18 comes out. By applying steam to the covered Japanese paper yarn (62), the fluff produced at both slit ends of the Japanese paper tape 18 is rounded, and the covering yarn 62 having a pleasant feel is obtained.

Although the covering device unit and the twisting device unit have been illustrated and described as the yarn processing device unit, it is needless to say that device configurations of these are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those having various device configurations can be used. Therefore, the configuration of the manufactured Japanese paper yarn is not limited to the above-described embodiment, either.

The yarn breakage detector 84 is provided on the assumption that the Japanese paper yarn is torn. However, there is a chance where the secondary yarn 54, the partner yarn 64, the auxiliary yarn 82, and the like are torn, therefore, one or the plurality of the yarn breakage detectors 84 may be disposed so that the breakage of these yarns can be detected. In a case where the yarn breakage detector detects that the Japanese paper tape, Japanese paper yarn, secondary yarn, or the like is torn, the covering device unit or the twisting device unit in a subsequent process corresponding to the Japanese paper tape or the like is preferably stopped. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and may be configured to notify the operator by blinking an alarm lamp or the like.

The traveling belt 49 for rotating the rotating tubular body 50 of the covering device unit 46 and the spindle 68 of the twisting device unit 66 allows a large number of the device units to be driven by one driving unit, and is efficient. However, the traveling belt 49 is inconvenient for driving the twisting device units or the covering device units individually. Therefore, a driving unit may be provided for each device unit without using the traveling belt 49. With this configuration, it becomes possible to immediately stop only a corresponding yarn processing device unit when the Japanese paper tape 18, or the like is torn.

In the Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to the present invention, once the manufacturing is started, the manufacturing process continues even if some of the plurality of Japanese paper tapes or Japanese paper yarns are torn. Meanwhile, the torn Japanese paper tape is sucked and removed by the torn Japanese paper tape discharging section, such as a suction unit, so that the manufacture of other Japanese paper yarns is not hindered.

Other than the above, the present invention can be implemented in a mode in which various improvements, modifications, or variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Further, the present invention may be implemented in a mode where any of the specific matters of the invention is replaced with other techniques within the range in which the same action or effect is generated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device comprising: a Japanese paper roll that is obtained by winding a long Japanese paper sheet in a roll shape; a slitter that slits the Japanese paper sheet fed out from the Japanese paper roll into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction; a distributing section provided with a plurality of tubes each having an inner diameter that allows each of the slit Japanese paper tapes to pass through; an air flow section that creates flow of air from an inlet toward an outlet in an inside of the plurality of the tubes; and a plurality of yarn processing device units that processes the Japanese paper tapes distributed by the tubes of the distributing section into a plurality of Japanese paper yarns.
 2. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein in the distributing section, one ends of the tubes are bundled and each of the other ends is provided in each of the yarn processing device units.
 3. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow section includes a plurality of nozzles each provided at an inlet of each of the tubes toward an inside the tube and one or more pressurizing devices that send compressed air to each of the nozzles.
 4. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow section includes a plurality of suction members each provided at an outlet of each of the tubes so as to suck air inside the tube and one or more decompression devices that suck air through each of the suction members.
 5. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of suction units that sucks and discharges any torn Japanese paper tapes to an outside; and a plurality of storage tanks that stores any torn Japanese paper tapes discharged by each of the suction units.
 6. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein each of the yarn processing device units is a twisting device unit or a covering device unit.
 7. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the yarn processing device units includes a steam generator unit that applies steam into contact with each of the Japanese paper tapes or each of the Japanese paper yarns.
 8. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of yarn breakage detectors that detects breakage of the Japanese paper tapes or the Japanese paper yarns.
 9. A Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device comprising: a Japanese paper roll that is obtained by winding a long Japanese paper sheet in the roll shape; a slitter that slits the Japanese paper sheet fed out from the Japanese paper roll into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction; a distributing section provided with a plurality of tubes each having an inner diameter that allows each of the slit Japanese paper tapes to pass through; and a plurality of yarn processing device units that processes the Japanese paper tapes distributed by the tubes of the distributing section into a plurality of Japanese paper yarns, wherein an installation position of the slitter is higher than a Japanese paper tape supply position to each of the yarn processing device units, and an inclination angle of each tube of the distributing section is at a depression angle of 20 to 60 degrees.
 10. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein in the distributing section, one ends of the tubes are bundled and each of the other ends is provided in each of the yarn processing device units.
 11. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the air flow section includes a plurality of nozzles each provided at an inlet of each of the tubes toward an inside the tube and one or more pressurizing devices that send compressed air to each of the nozzles.
 12. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein the air flow section includes a plurality of suction members each provided at an outlet of each of the tubes so as to suck air inside the tube and one or more decompression devices that suck air through each of the suction members.
 13. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of suction units that sucks and discharges any torn Japanese paper tapes to an outside; and a plurality of storage tanks that stores any torn Japanese paper tapes discharged by each of the suction units.
 14. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein each of the yarn processing device units is a twisting device unit or a covering device unit.
 15. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of the yarn processing device units includes a steam generator unit that applies steam into contact with each of the Japanese paper tapes or each of the Japanese paper yarns.
 16. The Japanese paper yarn manufacturing device according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of yarn breakage detectors that detects breakage of the Japanese paper tapes or the Japanese paper yarns.
 17. A Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method comprising the steps of: preparing a Japanese paper sheet wound in a roll; feeding out the Japanese paper sheet from the roll in a longitudinal direction; slitting the fed-out Japanese paper sheet into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction; distributing each of the plurality of the slit Japanese paper tapes through a plurality of tubes; transporting the plurality of the distributed Japanese paper tapes by sending air in transporting direction of each Japanese paper tape in each tube to which each Japanese paper tape is distributed; and processing the plurality of the transported Japanese paper tapes into a plurality of Japanese paper yarns.
 18. A Japanese paper yarn manufacturing method comprising the steps of: preparing a Japanese paper sheet wound in a roll; feeding out the Japanese paper sheet in a longitudinal direction; slitting the fed-out Japanese paper sheet into a plurality of Japanese paper tapes each having a narrow width in a feeding direction; distributing each of the plurality of the slit Japanese paper tapes through a plurality of tubes; transporting each of the plurality of the distributed Japanese paper tapes in each tube to which each Japanese paper tape is distributed from top to bottom by inclining each tube at a depression angle of 20 to 60 degrees; and processing the plurality of the transported Japanese paper tapes into a plurality of Japanese paper yarns. 